Terminal connector for circuit boards



Nov. 3, 1959 R. E. KIRK 2,911,610

TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR CIRCUIT BOARDS Filed Feb. 17. 1958 INVENTQR. F 'g5 R008 E. K/r/r Hi8 Attorney United States Patent TERMINAL CONNECTOR FORCIRCUIT BOARDS Robert E. Kirk, Warren, Ohio, assignor to General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationFebruary 17, 1958, Serial No. 715,680

4 Claims. (Cl. 339- 17) This invention relates to electrical connectors,and, particularly, to a multiple chamber connector body having thereinterminal means adapted to establish electrical connections relative to aprinted circuit board.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved terminaland connector for use with a printed circuit board.

Another object of this invention is to provide a con nector means havinga multiple chamber connector body adapted to receive a terminal having alooped end portion engageable against a printed circuit conducting material of an insulating panel adapted for mounting the connector body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connector means havingan insulating body provided with a guide means and mounting flangesengageable with a mounting panel on which there is provided a printedcircuit conducting material electrically connectible with projectingends of terminal means inserted and locked into recesses of theinsulating body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ;ter-. minal meansadapted to be locked into a chamber of an insulating body by engagementof lateral portions and a tongue projecting from a body of the terminalmeans into recessed portions of the chamber and having a terminal-meanslooped-end portion projecting from an end of the chamber and adapted tohave a crownyof the end portion resiliently engageable against a printedcuit conducting material and adapted to have atleast one shoulder of thelooped end portion engageable :against an abutment adjacent to anopening near one end of the chamber.

A further object of this invention is to provide a terminal means for aninsulator connector body that is adapted to be mounted relative to apanel having a printed circuit of conducting material thereon, theterminal means having a body providing lateral wing portions forconnection of wiring to the terminal means and providing lateralprojections slidable into guide grooves provided on opposite sides of achamber in the insulating body, the terminal means also having an endloop portion with at least one shoulder engageable against .a projectionextending inwardly relative to the chamber .of the insulating bodyadjacent to one end opening .through which a crown of the looped-endportion projects, and the terminal means further having a tongue,:projecting from the terminal body in a direction away from the crownand engageable against a shoulder provided in the insulating bodyextending inwardly toward an intermediate portion of the terminal means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein -a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

:Fig. 1 is an end view of a terminal connector of the 2 presentinvention taken looking in the direction of arrow 1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken along line 2H-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a (fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1and showing a terminal means inserted in a chamber of the connector.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of'a blank used for making the terminal shown inFig. 4. j

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fragment of an insulating board or panel onwhich there is provided a printed cirl cuit conducting material adaptedto be engaged by the connector and terminal means of the presentinvention.

With particular reference to Fig. 1 there is shown an electricalconnector means generally indicated by numeral 10 having an insulatingbody 12 provided with a plurality of radially outwardly extendingprojecting portions 12a. In the specific connector means illustrated inFig. 1, there are six of these radially outwardly projecting bodyportions 12a and each of these portions is provided with a pair ofsubstantially radial walls 12b which are connected relative to eachother at their radial outer ends by a lateral wall 120. At the radiallyinner ends. of the walls 12b there is an inner connection between eachof the portions 12a as well as the walls 12b because the body 12 joinsall of the portions 12a into a single hex-1 agona l-type structure asillustrated in Fig. 1.

Each of the portions 12a is provided with a passage or opening 12d and,in addition to the six passages 12d provided in the portions 12a, thebody 12 is further provided with similar passages or openings 12elocated in the central body portion of the connector. It is to'beunderstood that the passages or openings 12d and 12e are substantiallyidentical to each other and fulfill a purpose which will be apparent inthe following description. Cavities or recesses 12r can be provided inbe tween passages or openings 12e in the central body portion.

The connector 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1 does not illus-' trate mountedtherein terminal means in accordance with the present invention for usein the body portions 12a. The terminal means are omitted from the viewof Fig. 1 for purposes of clarity and are shown more clearly in anotherview of the drawings to be described in detail below. It is to be notedthat the connector 10 shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a pair of webportions 10a located diametrically opposite each other and extendinglaterally between pairs of adjacent body portions 12a. These webs 10ahave an outer peripheral edge 10c which coincides substantially with anouter surface edge of the lateral wall 12c of each of the body portions12a. The webs 10:: also are provided with laterally outwardly extendingflange portions 10d which project radially at substantiallydiametrically opposite locations as indicated in Fig. 1 and which eachterminate in a lug portion 10:: adapted to be locked into engagementrelative to a mounting panel having complementary slots for forming abayonet-type fastening relative to the connector means 10. The connectormeans 10 is further provided with a central guide pin 10g visible inFig. 1 as well as in Fig. 2.

The guide pin 10g and the lugs 10:: can be better seen in the view ofFig. 2 taken along line 22 of Fig. 1. As visible in Fig. 2, the body 12is integral with the guide pin 10g which extends longitudinally of thebody and projects outwardly at opposite ends of the body. At the end ofthe body opposite to the end where the flanges 10a and lugs We areprovided, the guide pin 10g is provided with a hollow interior 10h whichcan be adapted I to be engageable by a tool insertable in the ,hollowpor-,

tion IOhfor. positioning and removing the connector means 10 relativetoamounting panel. However, since the connector pin 10g extendslongitudinally of the surface of-the body .12 at the side where thehollowportion 10h is' provided, it isalso possible for the extendingportion that..terminates.at an annular edge 10: to be-used asahan'dle"engagedby fingers-orother-means for in serting and removing theconnector means 10'relative to a mounting panel.

At thegopposite end of the guide pin 10g there isprovided a projectinglongitudinalportion' 10 located centrally relative to the" body 12.".The' projecting portion 10 is provided with a key 10k extendinglaterally outwardly from one side of'the projecting portion'ltlj. {Thiskey has an arcuate dimension of approximately onesixteen'thof an inch.'Itjis to be.understood that'the projecting portion 10] could alsobeprovided with. a laterally or radially inwardly-extending recess'or slotextending longitudinally of the projectingportions ttijmand havingadimension twice the above sample dimension so that a, projecting pinofa mounting panel canbe inserted relative to the key orwrecess. 'Whensuch a .structure is provided, the projecting portions of the mountingpanelsho'uld preferablylhave an arcuate dimension half that'of thearcuate width or dimension of the key-slot or recess portion. In theembodiment 'illustrated,. the.projecting. portion 10j is, adapted to beinserted'throngh an opening in an insulating panel, and the projectingportion 101' as well as the lugs'10e and'flange portions or the lugs 10d.are insertable relative-toa mounting panel having openings providedwith'slots complementary to laterally-outwardly extendingkey. 10k andlugs 18c.

.Inv Fig. 6.there isIshown a mounting panel. generally indicatedby..numeral 14 including an insulating board 14a. provided .with .a.central opening or passage'14i including.a-radial wkeyor. slot portion14k adapted to be complementary .to the. projecting portion =10j. andkey 10k of the body 12illustrated in Fig.. 2. The key 10k extendsradially outwardlyand hasa lateral dimension substantially less than thelateral dimension ofthe key slot 14k. It is to be understood thatif thekey and slot relationship of-.the: projecting portion andupanelarereversed, the same relative difference between the lateral dimensionsof the relative'projecting; portions and slots. is required so.thattheconnector body 12 can be turned in a clockwise or.counterclockwisedirection for effecting locking engagementof thelugs'10e relative to the insulating board-14a. Theinsulating board 14ais providedwith an arcuate; cutout. portion: 14d located substantiallydiametrically opposite to .eachother relative to the central passage/14and each of the cutout portions 14d is provided:; at diametricallyopposite positions with radially outwardly. extending slots 142 throughwhich the lugs-10e 'can'rbe. inserted. 'As' the lugs.10e are insertedthrough the radially outwardly extending slots 14e, it is necessary thattheikey 10k be alignedtinfthe .corner of the slot 14k which isdiametrically. in alignment between the slots 142. In other -words,-the.key' 10k must be in the lower left hand corner 'ofikey-slot 14k sothat there-is proper alignment ofthe' lugs 10e relative to the radiallyoutwardly extendingsslots 142. ITermin'al'means are adapted to be fittedinside the insulating-body 12 for connectionrelative:to conductingmaterial portions provided on the insulating bodyI114a.

i Fig. 6-illustrates a plurality -of conducting material portions 14pattached to or carried on the insulating board 14a. :Eachof theseconducting material portions Mpterminates in a Substantiallycylindrically'shaped contacfi l4c as illustrated in Fig. 6. It isapparent that'the cylindrical contact portions -14c-of the-conductingmaterial- 1412 on theinsulating board 14a are provided-in substantiallythe same-pattern as the'openings- 12d provided with eachof theportions.12a of the insulating body 12 described in -Fig. l. Also thereare threecontact-portions 14c substantially in alignment :with openings 122mentioned in the description earlier. The key 10k insertable relativeto-the key-slot'14k assures proper alignment of these passages 0ropenings relative to the contact portions 140.

It is apparent that the flange portions 10d provided extending radiallyoutwardly from the web portions 10:: also extend longitudinallyof thebody '12 for a predetermined distance parallel to the projecting portion10 of the guide means or pin 10g. The longitudinal dimension of theflange .portions 10d is dependent upon the thickness of the insulatingboard14a. In any event, the body 12 has a surface 12 adjacent to theprojecting portion 10] and. this surface 12 is substantiallyperpendicular relative to the projecting portion "10j. Longitudinallyspaced from the surface 12 there isa curved lug surface 191 which isseen most clearly in the view of Fig. 3. This arcuate lug surface ltlzextends longitudinally toward the surface 12 but is located radiallyoutwardly thereof and is spaced longitudinally thereof at all times. Asthe lugs 10e are inserted through the radial slots-14c of the insulatingboard'14a; the crown-or central portion of the lug surface'10zissubstantially in alignmentrelative .to an under-surface of theinsulatingboard-Ma. Thus the arcuate or crown surface-10z of eachof thelugs 10a is adapted to be locked into engagement underneath aflangeportion'14z oftheinsulating board 14!:

in a bayonet-typefastening-provided as the insulating body 12 is rotatedin a clockwise-direction relative to the insulating board as viewed'in'Fig;j6.

As illustrated in Fig.2, the insulating body 12 of the connectorlt) isprovided with longitudinally extending cavities or chambers 12mand'theprojecting'portions 12a of thebody 12 are provided withlongitudinal chambers 1212. The chambers 12m, are openrat one endthrough the passages or openings 122 mentioned earlier and are open atan opposite end through an aperture 12x. Similarly, each of the cavitiesor ,chambersglzn is open at one longitudinal end throughthe passage or,opening 12d and open at an opposite end through an aperture-12y. It isto be understood that apertures 12x and 12y are provided for each ofthechambers or cavities having'the openings or passages :12e and .12d,respectively, described earlier. Each ofthe cavities 12m are providedwith undercutportions or laterally extending grooves 12w and .eachofthese cavities or chambers 1211 have undercut portions or grooves 12v.'fTheundercut portions or grooves 12w and 12v extend laterally outwardlyfrom sidewalls of the chambers 12m and 12n and are adapted to providelongitudinal guideslots' for positioning of terminal means generallyindicated by numeral 16 .of Fig. 4. A pair of inclines orsloped'shoulders 13s are provided for each guide slot on one side oftransverse portion 12t. These inclines or sloped'shoulders 13s seryeasguides for facilitating wedging of lateralportions of the terminal meansinto the undercuts such as 12v.

The terminal means 16 are clearly visible in the cross sectional viewof'Fig. 4 and each of the terminal means 16 is formed of a blank stampedout of a' sheet of metal as shown in a developed view of'theblankprovidedin Fig. 5. The terminal means 16 includes a body 16a andlaterally extending flanges 16f projecting outwardly from the body 16aat locations opposite to each other. The flange or lateral portions 16;)as illustrated-in Fig: Shave a greater width than the body 16a. Theflanges 16f-are adapted to be slida-ble longitudinally 'intothe undercutportions such as 12w and 12v provided extending laterally outwardly ofthe cavities or chambersin the insulating body 12. The bodyportion -16ais-further provided with a tongue -16t that is attached at one end 16urelative to the body .portionbut which has a'free end 16s providedextending away from the bodyportion-between the flange or lateralportions 16 The-free end' 16s of the tongue 162. is adapted to beengageable against an abutment or shoulder 12! provided extendingtransversely-relative to the chamber into which the terminal means 16 isinserted.

The abutting relationship of the end 16s relative to the transverseshoulder Hi can be best seen in Fig. 4.

The terminal means 16 is further provided with a terminal end portion16z extending longitudinally from body portion 16a adjacent to theflange or lateral portions 16 The terminal end portion 16z is providedwith two pairs of laterally extending tangs 16v'and 16w which areadapted to be crimped and bent into engagement with a wire 18v and aninsulating portion 18w of a conductor generally indicated by numeral 18as shown in Fig. 4. The body portions 16a further extends in a directionopposite to the direction of the terminal end portion 16z and forms aterminal-contact end including multiple segments. The body portion atthe contact end is bent to include a resilient arm segment 16r extendingtransversely relative to the flange or lateral portions 16f. The widthdimension of the body portion 16a is substantially equal to the width ofthe chamber such as 12m or 1211 provided extending longitudinallythrough the insulating body 12 or radial portions 12a of the insulatingbody. The contact end of body portion 16a is formed further to include alongitudinally extending segment 161' which is located intermediate theresilient arm segment 16r and a laterally inwardly bent shoulder segment16y engageable against an inwardly extending flange y provided adjacentto and extending laterally of the opening 12y mentioned earlier. Theflange 10y serves as a stop to limit insertion of the terminal means 16relative to the insulating body 12 having the cavities or chambers intowhich each of the terminal means is fitted.

The terminal means 16 extends further from the shoulder segment 16y intoa crown or curved contact segment 16c clearly shown in Fig. 4. Thecontact segment 160 is an arcuate or semi-annular section that extendslongitudinally outwardly through the opening 12y and has an intermediateouter periphery that projects longitudinally beyond the surface 12f ofthe insulating body 12 so that the crown or contact segment 16c can beengaged resiliently against the cylindrical contact portions 140 of theconducting material 14p carried on the insulating board 14a of mountingpanel 14. The curved or semiannular or circular crown segment 160 ispositioned in the aperture 12y between flange 10y and a pair of lugs orabutments 10:: extending laterally inwardly from the insulating bodyrelative to the opening 12y at locations in corners opposite thelocation of the flange 10y. The terminal means has an end segment 16bbent over to extend laterally from the semi-arcuate or crown segment16c. Laterally opposite ends 16e of the bent end segment 16b are adaptedto be engageable against the lugs 10x. Thus the contact segment 160 ismaintained in engagement relative to the insulating body due to thecooperation of the flange segment 16y and ends or tips 16e of bent endsegment and lugs 10x of the insulating body.

Since the free end 16s of tongue 16f is engageable relative to thetransverse portion 121 located in an intermediate position relative tothe chamber in which the terminal is inserted, there is a locking of theterminal means 16 relative to the insulating body by engagement of theend 16s-relative to portion 12t, of segments 16y relative to flange 10y,and ends or tips of bent end segment 16b relative to lugs 10x asillustrated in Fig. 4. Lateral movement of the terminal means 16 isprevented due to engagement of the flanges or lateral portions 16relative to the undercut laterally-extending slots such as 12v and 12wprovided extending laterally outwardly relative to each of the chambersin the insulating body.

It is to be noted that when the connector and terminal means of thepresent invention are locked into engagement with the mounting panel 14,the surface 121' is positioned adjacent to a top surface of theinsulating board 14a as well as a top surface of the conducting material14p. The arcuate shape of the surface 10z of the lugs We used for thebayonet fastening of the connector 10 relative to the insulating board14a is provided to assure a resilient locking action of the insulatingbody relative to the insulating board. It is to be noted also that theopposite ends 16e of the bent end segment 16b of the terminal means '16are each completely free to be moved away from engagement relative tolugs 10x as the crown or semi-annular segment 160 of the terminal meansis resiliently engaged relative to a cylindrically shaped contactportion 140 of the conducting material14p of the printed-circuittypeprovided on insulatingboard 14a. Whenever the crown or semi-annularcontact segment 16c is engaged relative to the circular or cylindricallyshaped contact there is a flexing of the crown or semi-annular contactsegment 16c relative to flange portion 16y and intermediate, segment161' relative to resilient arm segment 16r causing longitudinalseparation of the opposite ends 16e of bent segment 16b from the lugs10x. The contactsegment flexing about flange segment 16y throughintermediate segment 16i and resilient arm segment 16r causes force tobe transmitted longitudinally from the contact end of the terminal meansbody portion 16a as far as a connecting portion 16a between the bodyportion 16a and the tongue 16! that extends laterally away from the bodyportion and terminates in the free end 16s engageable against thetransverse portion 12t. The tongue 12t transmits reaction force from thetransverse portion 16! of the connector body resisting andcounterbalancing the flexing force. Lugs ltle of the connector bodyresilient- 1y abut against the underside of the mounting panel andflexing of the contact segment 16c enhances resilient engagement of theconnector relative to the panel. The terminal means permits resilientdisplacement of the crown or contact segment 16c but does not permit theterminal means 16 to be displaced out of engagement with the transverseportion 121 because the tongue end 16s is firmly locked into engagementwith the transverse portion 12t.

The transverse portion 12t has a lateral surface 121: against which theend portion 16s abuts and also an inclined surface 121 over which thetongue 16t passes as the terminal is inserted longitudinally into thecavity 12n as illustrated in Fig. 4. Whenever the crown or contactsegment is engaged resiliently against the printed circuit conductingmaterial or contacts 140, the semi-circular crown or contact segment ismoved as a unit into a longitudinally retracted position located withinthe opening 12y. The crown portion can also be referred to as ahooked-end portion or looped contact which is resiliently engageablerelative to the cylindrical or circular-shaped contact 140. The flangeportions 16 and tongue 162. as well as flange segment 16y and bent endsegment 16b, serve to stabilize the terminal against lateral andlongitudinal movement relative to the insulating body chamoer in whichthe terminal is inserted. The terminal means can be removed from thechamber if a tool or blunt instrument like a screw driver is inserted inspace between lugs 10x and is forced longitudinally underneath thetongue 16t for disengaging end portion 16s from transverse portion 12t.

Since the insulating body illustrated in the drawings is provided withmultiple chambers it is possible to pro vide an electrical connectionbetween multiple conductors such as 18 relative to multiple contactportions 14c pro vided with a printed circuit carried on an insulatingboard as illustrated in the drawings. At least two contact portions andat least two chambers should be provided for establishing connection ofa pair of conductors such as '18 relative to a pair of printed circuitcontact portions 140.

The mounting flangm 10a to which the lugs 10e are attached areinsertable into openings 14d provided in the insulating board and areadapted to form a bayonet type fastening between the insulating body 12and the insulating board or mounting panel as described. The guide 10ghaving the projecting end 10 insertable in the opening Hi and adapted tohave the key 10k engageable and complementary relative to the keyslot14k is. provided for assuring. proper alignment, of the bayonetfastening as ,well as proper alignment of,t he contact, portions 14crelative. to .thelterminal ,rneans crown or contact segments 16cresilientlyengageable relative to .each of thecontact portions v14c.

While the embodimentsof the present invention as herein disclosedconstitute-a preferred form, itlis ,to, be understoodthat other formsmight-be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows: i

l. A connector and terminal vmeans. for use relative to a printedcircuit board, comprising,..a connector body of insulating materialhaving at least two chambers extending parallel. to each other axially.therethrough, said connector body having. lateral,longitudinally-extending slots on opposite sides of eachofthe chambers,aterminal means having lateral flanges provided-to be positioned in thelateral slots, means for locking saidterniinal means in the chamber, anda,crowned, looped-end portion of said terminal-means resilientlyengageablerelativeto the printed circuit board, said loopedendjportionprotruding atvleast' in partirom an opening. at one end of the chamber.

2. The connector and terminal means of claim 1 wherein said connectorbody has a guide pin, located betweenrthe chambers and protrudingtfrom.atleast one side of said ,body, a key, means provided by said pin andadapted to be complementary to an opening ,in the printed circuitboardagainst which said connectoriand, terminal means isengageable, and apair of lugs,.protruding'from saidbody in locations parallel tosaidguidepin, said lugs being adapted to be complementaryfindiengageable relativeto a pair of slots in the printed circuit board relative to which saidguidepin aligns said body for aligned connection of saidlooped-endportions of said terminal means relative to the printedcircuit board.

3. The connector and terminal means of claim 1 wherein said means "for'locking said terminalmeans in the chamber include a transverse shoulderportion provided in said body, a tongue projecting outwardly from saidterminal means and having a'free end engageable against said shoulderportion, a flange extending inward- 8 1y from s aid body onpne, sideofan opening at oneend of the;chamber, a pair. ,of abutments extendinginwardly from said body, in oppositecorners across irom said flange inthevopening, 'gsaid loopedend portion having shouldersadjacenttheretojior engaging said shoulder-portion, and Said. abutments,one ofthe shouldersvof said loopedend portion beingengageable,at freeterminating ends thereof againstj.saidabntments laterally spacedrelative to each other.

4. A connector and. terminal means for userelative to a printed circuitboard, comprising, a connector body of insulating materialhaving atleast two chambers extending, parallel .to each, other axiallytherethrough, said connector -body, having. lateral,longitudinally-extendin g slots on,opposite sides. of, eachofthechambers, a terminal means having lateral flanges provided to bepositioned in thelateral slots,. a, tongue projecting outwardly fromsaid terminal means, ,a transversevshoulder portion provided in saidbody and,,haying one surface engaged by said tongue for preventingremoval of said terminal means longitudinally from the chambersaidwshoulder portion having an .-in clined surface overwhich ,saidtongue is guided to. thetsurface, engaged fonpreventing removal of said.terminalmeans, a flange. extending inwardly from saidbody onv a side.of thefchamber opposite said shoulder portion and located ,on onesideof an opening at one end. of the chamber, a pair vofabutments extendinginwardly from said bodydin opposite corners, across from said flange: inthesqopenin g, and a semiaannular contact portion of said terminal meanshavingshoulders engageable against said fiangeand said pair ,0f.a-mcnts, said abutments providing space therebetween, through which said.tongue can be reached andsuitably flexed. to eflect dislocation ofsaidtongue from the locking. surface of said transverseshoulder. portionto,perrnit removal of said terminal means from said body.

,References' Cited inthe ,file of this, patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

